Demountable cushion tire



July 13 1926. 1,591,982

w. R. KsRKwooD DEMOUNTABLE cusuoN TIRE Filed March 18 1925 Patented July 13, 192%.

Erice.

WILLIAM R. KIRWOOD, OF PI-IGENIX, ARlZONA.

DEMOUNTABLE CUSEION TIRE.V

Application filed Marcil 1s, 1925. serial no. 16,437.

The present invention embodies a novel V tire having the flexibility and uniform re siliency of the pneumatic type while at the same time possessing the eXtreme durability and strength of the solid type.

rlhe invention has for an object to pro- Y vide a tire construction that will be eX-i Atremely resilient under light loads but will be capable of etlicient operation under medium or heavy loads. Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the tread portion of the tire is held inrspaced relation with respect to the main or body portion of the tire, by a series of curved supporting arms or spokes arranged in such a manner that upon abnormal depression of thetread portion, the spokes will constitute yieldable cushions between the tread andibody portions of the tire. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a tire construction which may be easily and readily removed from the run, but when applied will positively interlock therewith to prevent any rotative movement such as slipping or creeping.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be. hereinafter set forth and the novel Vfeatures thereof defined by the'appended claims.

in t accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portion of a wheel showing van embodiment of my invention, parts being brolenaway in order to disclose more clearly some of the details of my construction; and

Figure 2 is cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Lilie reference characters designate corresponding parts on the several gures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, A yrepresents a demountable or removable cushion tire., constructed in accordance with my invention; B denotes a rim and combined felly; and C is the retaining flange for the tire A.

The tire A is preferably moulded or otherwise formed of rubber or suitable ina- Vterial and consists of a tread portion l supported in spaced relation from the main or body portion-2 by a series of curved` tapering resilient spoke members 3.

' The tread section 1 is somewhat greater' in Width than the restof the tire and is provided with. a non-skid tread surface la having recesses or depressions l therein. Each of these recesses l is in the form of a V with itsvapex or point directed oppositely from the rotative direction of the wheel. By reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that this non-skid formation will greatly increase the tactive qualities of my tire when it is used on the rear or driving wheels of a vehicle. The supporting spokes 3 for the tread section are arranged in close proximity to each other and provided with front and rear pressure surfaces 5 and 6, respectively.

The front pressure face 5 is of angular formation as seen in the drawing, actually consisting of three adjoining curved faces 5'PL and .5b-5b. The main or central face 5a is somewhat triangular in formation, its base being adjacent the tread portion and its apex adjacent the body portion. rl`he portion of the face 5a which is near the tread surface is normally maintained in spaced relation thereto by the slight ofi'- set 5c.

As will lie/seen from Figure 1, the rear pressure face 6 of each spoke 3 is a cylindrically curved surface, joining the inner face 1b of the tread section l at an obtuse angle. The inner surface 1b of the tread section 1 is also termed a pressure face and is cylindrically curved. As the tire is deformed these two faces contact with the saine side of the spoke member. y The body portion 2 of the tire is provided with annular beveled outer faces 2a-2a and an inner rim-engaging portion 2b of reduced width, notched o-n its inner surface at intervals to provide a series of transverse recesses 7, forming lugs adapted to engage re taining bolts 8 for the side flange C of the rim B.

The combined action of the inclined or curved faces 5a, 5b and 2a, when the tire is compressed or deformed, causes the ejection of any dirt or mud which may be collected between the tire spokes.

The rim B consists of an L-shaped, annular felly or spoke engaging' portion notched at intervals as indicated at 9 to receive the projections l0 on the retaining flange C. Suitable fastening means for securing the flange C on the rim, such as bolts 8, kare provided.

A tire constructed in' accordance with my invention is of suoli rugged and durable character that renewal is seldom necessaiy. For this reason the bolts 8 are placed with their nuts Sfon theinner face of the wheel.

In use thetire is placed on thewheel to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure l, and the stress applied to the spokes 3 will be in an opposite direct-icm tending to bend them down against the body portion. Under slight loads very little deformation will occur. However, when the tread portion l is forced inward, either by an obstruction or increased load, the spokes will Ybe bent` or arched and tensioned. lVhere the deformation is slight this flexibility will produce an extremely resilient tire. i

Upon further; deformation the pressurev surface l? of the treadsection will engage the pressure faces 5a ofthe spoke face 5, thereby shortening. its effect-iveV lever arm; andV as the deformation is further increased the area of the pressure face 5fl of the spoke 3 in contact with the tread pressure face lb becomes greater. If the spokes are sufficiently bent or curved by the deformation, a portion of each of the rear faces G of the spokes 3 will rest upon the front'face 5a of the succeeding spoke7 thus materially increasing the load-carryingfacilities of the tire.

Upon maximum deformation it will therefore be understoodthat the spokes 3 are forced down against their succeeding spokes causing an overlapping of the pressure faces 6 and 5 of adjacent spokes by their contact with each other and with a portion of the. beveled faces o f the body portion and l of the tread section, when the spokes will constitute rubber cushions between the tread and body portions. Y

YiVhileirin the deformed position any lateral pressure orYV force is distributed to o ne of the annularly disposed bevel faces 2a and its adjoining face 5* of the spoke 3, and is absorbed Vby theresilient material. It will therefore be seen that the spokes function asresilient arms supporting the tread section under normal operating conditions but under certain conditions these spokes are caused to overlap', producing a series of solid rubber cushions between the tread and body portions. f

While the specific coiistriictioirof mylinvention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and alterations may be m-.ide therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i; f

l. A cushion tire constructioncomprising a body of resilient material having openings cut laterally therethrough at regular intervalsto thereby form. flexible spokes or webs intermediate rim and tread portions7 the wall of the respective openings constituting the forward face of each web being beveled laterally on a taper to provide deliecting faces Vextending from the tread portion to the rim portion and increasing in width toward Y*said rim portion. i

2. A cushion tire construction comprising a bodyof resilient materialhaving openings cut laterally therethrough at regular intervals totliereby form exible spokes or webs intermediate rim and tread portions, one wall ofY each openingnhaving a cylindrical pressure receiving surface and an angularly g.

related deflecting face.

Y3. A cushion tire construction comprising abody of resilient material having openings cut laterally therethrough atV regular intervals, to thereby form flexible spokes or webs intermediate rim and tread portionsi one wall of each opening having a cylindrical pressure receiving face VVtapering from the 'tread portion toward the rim portionand a coactingoppositely tapering deflectingsurface. Y Y

e. A cushion tire construction lcon'iprising a body of resilient material luwing openings cut laterally therethrough at regular intervalsrron an angle to the radius of the tire to thereby form flexible spokes or webs intermediate rim and tread portionsthe outer portion of one opening overlapping the inner portion of the next ripening, the base of each opening and a face of each web being beveled lzterally'to provide opposing deiecting surfaces for ejecti-ng Vto either side material tending` to adhere in and iil the openings upon deformation of the tire, the deflecting surfaces of the web faces being of less width the tread portion than at tlie rim portion.

A. cushionVV tire construction comprising a body of resilient material having arcuate openingscut laterally therethrough at regular intervals to thereby form flexible spokes or webs intermediate rim and tread portions tapering toward the tread portion, the respective forward and outer wall of each opening consisting of a cylindrical pressure face and the inner and rear walls respectively of each opening having deflecting surfaces formed by beveling said walls oppositeiy toward each side.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

XVILLIAM R. KIRKVOOD. 

